The Nine-Tails' Request

Hokage's Office

The Third, Hiruzen Sarutobi, lightly tapped his fingertips against the desk, his eyes full of emotion. "The Hyuga have clung to tradition and lineage for generations. I never imagined they would produce a child like Hinata, exceptional in both character and combat ability."

But remembering Hinata's tragic end on the Light Screen, Hiruzen Sarutobi slowly sighed, his voice heavy. "Sadly, this child's life was far too troubled."

Seated nearby, Tsunade looked up solemnly. "Old man, when are we bringing Naruto back to Konoha?"

Jiraiya nodded in agreement, his tone grave. "Naruto is the savior of the Shinobi World."

"We all saw it on the Light Screen just now. That enemy in the future was so powerful that there was simply no answer to him."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes darkened as images of Naruto's lonely, helpless childhood flashed through his mind.

Then he recalled how Minato and Kushina had gone to their deaths, and guilt filled his heart. "I... truly have no face to meet Minato and Kushina."

"Perhaps only when Tsunade officially takes over as Hokage will the two of them be willing to bring Naruto back to Konoha."

Ever since Tsunade and Jiraiya had returned to Konoha three years ago,

the Third had been determined to entrust the Hokage position to Tsunade and appoint her as the Fifth Hokage.

Yet for three whole years, Tsunade had never agreed.

At those words,

Tsunade and Jiraiya both fell silent.

Images of Naruto growing up alone, enduring cold stares throughout his childhood, rose in their minds, filling them both with guilt.

They could no longer place the entire burden of saving the Shinobi World on that innocent child's shoulders with a clear conscience.

Just then, something struck Tsunade, and she suddenly spoke. "Wait, did you notice anything unusual about Hinata's final battle? Something was very different about her eyes."

Jiraiya paused, recalling that fleeting glimpse at the end of the Light Screen. "You mean... those eyes?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi immediately turned toward her as well. "We don't yet know the name of that ocular technique, but we can be certain that it was an advanced ocular power far beyond an ordinary Byakugan."

Tsunade spoke with solemn emphasis. "Just as the Sharingan can evolve into the Mangekyo Sharingan, Hinata's Byakugan had already embarked on a path of supreme evolution unique to her."

"From now on, the three of us will carefully teach Hinata together. We can't let Naruto shoulder every danger alone anymore."

"Minato and Kushina never owed Konoha a thing. The crises facing the Shinobi World should never have been borne by just a handful of people."

Tsunade looked up at Hiruzen Sarutobi, her voice firm. "Make the announcement to the whole village in a little while, old man. I'll take the position of Fifth Hokage."

Seeing Tsunade finally agree, Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression relaxed, his delight impossible to hide. "Good! Wonderful!"

Land of Whirlpools

Naruto gazed for a long time at the sky where the Light Screen had disappeared.

He had never met Hinata Hyuga, yet the scenes of her fighting to a bloody death had pierced deep into his heart, leaving his chest aching and tight.

Little Naruto gently pressed a hand to his chest and looked up at Kushina, his soft voice tinged with hurt. "Mom, it hurts here."

Kushina instantly panicked. She hurriedly crouched down and examined him closely. "What's wrong, Naruto? Where do you feel unwell?"

"After watching that Hinata die in battle just now, my heart started hurting so much," Naruto murmured.

Minato Namikaze slowly stepped forward and gently ruffled his hair, his eyes warm. "That's because you feel compassion for her and have come to care about her."

Looking at his son's innocent face, Minato asked softly, "Naruto, would you really like to meet this brave Hinata?"

Naruto immediately nodded hard, his clear eyes brimming with earnest anticipation. "Yes! I really want to meet her!"

Looking at her kind, gentle son, Kushina's eyes softened with helpless affection and heartache.

Just then!

The Nine-Tails' deep, raspy voice suddenly sounded from within Kushina. "When are you going to transfer me into this brat?"

Kushina froze for a moment, then turned to Minato.

Minato's gaze steadied, and he said gravely, "Let the Nine-Tails out. We'll discuss this face-to-face."

Kushina immediately created a Shadow Clone. Carrying a strand of immense chakra, the Nine-Tails possessed the clone.

The Nine-Tails' icy voice rang out. "I don't want to stay trapped inside you anymore. Transfer me into Naruto."

Kushina frowned deeply, bristling with suspicion. "Nine-Tails, what are you scheming this time?"

"If not for this brat, I wouldn't even bother wasting words on you." The Nine-Tails spoke indifferently, though with a rare trace of seriousness.

"I saw the future with my own eyes, and I've acknowledged this child."

"I won't hurt Naruto. I want to start learning to work with him as soon as possible and achieve perfect Nine-Tails mode."

Minato was about to speak and weigh the pros and cons, but little Naruto spoke first.

His gaze was innocent yet firm. "Dad, the Nine-Tails is my friend! I saw it all on the Light Screen!"

"The secret scroll I left for that girl named Hinata in the future contained the Nine-Tails' power! I'm not scared of him at all. I really like the Nine-Tails!"

The Nine-Tails fell silent for a moment before speaking again. "I'll leave half my chakra inside Kushina. That won't count as completely extracting the tailed beast, so it won't trigger a backlash from the seal. It'll be perfectly safe."

Minato lowered his eyes and pondered for a long time.

After repeatedly weighing the pros and cons, he finally nodded slowly in agreement.

Pure Land

Hashirama Senju looked at the lingering traces of the Light Screen and sighed softly. "The enemies in the future are even more troublesome than I imagined."

"Even I couldn't be certain of beating that Xue Zhantian just now."

Beside him, Tobirama Senju spoke with a solemn expression. "Brother, did you notice?"

"That little girl named Hinata-her eyes changed at the very last moment?"

Hashirama Senju's expression turned serious, and he slowly nodded. "I saw it. I've never seen eyes like those before."

"But the power they unleashed in that instant was no weaker than Madara's Mangekyo Sharingan. Judging by this child,"

"there are quite a few geniuses among Konoha's younger generation who far surpass us back then."

Tobirama Senju's tone grew even graver. "Unfortunately, every one of those future enemies is like a monster."

"Who knows when we'll be able to return to the Shinobi World?"

By now, Tobirama's thoughts had already drifted back to the world of the living, his mind occupied entirely with ways to revive himself.

With sinister currents stirring throughout the Shinobi World, it surely needed him to return.

Elsewhere in the Pure Land.

Izuna Uchiha looked at Madara beside him and spoke quietly. "Brother, that Xue Zhantian, with those crimson eyes, must be from the Chinoike Clan."

Izuna continued thoughtfully. "I remember that after Father personally killed the Blood Prison Clan Leader back then,"

"the clan vanished without a trace. How could someone like Xue Zhantian emerge from it in the future, and become so overwhelmingly powerful?"

Madara Uchiha scoffed, his voice carrying his innate arrogance. "Hmph. He's a brat with some ability, but he's still nothing before me."

"Don't forget, Izuna. Once I'm revived, I'll reclaim my Rinnegan."

"His strength is decent. If he's willing to submit, I can put him to use; if he refuses, I'll simply eliminate him."

Izuna shook his head slightly and analyzed the situation calmly. "We watched his entire battle on the Light Screen. This Xue Zhantian is extremely ambitious."

"Trying to make him submit willingly would be far too risky. Even if pressure forced him to yield for a while, he'd rebel sooner or later once he found an opportunity."

"Kill him! That's the safest choice."

After hearing his younger brother's analysis, Madara Uchiha slowly nodded. "You're right."

"Keeping someone consumed by ambition at my side would only create more trouble."

Note: Sorry, it was already five when I got home from my part-time job. I've been rushing to finish the chapter. Sorry for the wait, everyone.

I'm still rushing to get more updates out. Please send a little support through the "Generate Power with Love" button!